Back in early January, it seemed we had finally started our season with 7 points from 3 games. It proved, however, to be a false dawn.

In several recent games we simply haven’t shown up. A 5-0 replay defeat at Millwall, the same scoreline against promotion chasers Cheltenham, 4-0 at Swindon, 4-1 at Crewe. The goals we’ve conceded are often laughable, our attacking threat often non-existant. Take the Crewe game for example – unmarked players queueing up for the first, and an air-shot from Lewington which saw Ogogo’s backpass roll into the net. Or Cheltenham, conceding from a corner which Femi should have prevented, giving their centre-half the freedom of the box to control and score from a 2nd corner, and Hogan parrying the ball straight out to gift-wrap the 3rd goal.

But despite the drubbings in these matches, it is the ones against our rivals which have really cost us. From recent games against Hereford, Plymouth, Wimbledon and Northampton we have the grand total of 1 point. That sole point came in a 0-0 draw at Home Park, but not before Argyle had twice rattled the frame of the Daggers goal. The others games brought two 1-0 defeats and a 2-1 reverse.

The fact that we are barely able to score a goal against some of the leakiest defences in the division tells you a story of our season. Just 34 goals scored in 36 games, the lowest in the league.

But there are problems at the other end too. Despite not being troubled defensively for the bulk of these games, we have still found a way to concede. If you can’t win the game, the least you can do is take the point on offer. But no, we seem incapable of keeping our concentration for 90 minutes. Take the Hereford game – yet another goal from a corner – or the Northampton game where Lewington spilt a shot straight out to the oncoming forward. The Wimbledon game was a similar story as the on-loan Bond let a soft goal in at his near post for the winner. Bond was dropped in the wake of this only for Lewington to make the aforementioned error in the next game, which certainly leaves John with a selection headache.

We’ve also relinquished bonus points at Torquay and Oxford, games we would never have expected to get something from, by conceding scarcely deserved and avoidable goals.

There have been some rare highlights however. Possibly the best performance of the season brought a 2-1 win at Morecambe, which was immediately followed by a gritty and determined 1-0 victory over Bradford, who always seem to struggle against us.

The main reason offered up for our current plight is almost always the same: Injuries. As we had feared, Maher and Gain have been missing from the side ever since the holiday period, and although Josh Scott was quickly back in the fold after yet another setback, his fitness has again suffered. Further injury woe has come in the shape of niggles for Femi and Dom Green, whilst also robbing us of new signing Matt Saunders after just 3 games. More recently Doe has been absent, whilst it seems Josh Parker will also miss upcoming games with a knee injury sustained in only his first match.

Loan signings have been plentiful in an attempt to plug the gaps. Central midfield players Abdulla and Wearen came in from West Ham, and out wide we’ve seen Ben Reeves from Southampton and Parker from Oldham attempt to inject some spark. Jonathan Bond arrived from Watford to fill in after Lewington’s 2nd red card of the season, and Mathieu Baudry formed something like our 7th centre-half pairing of the season alongside Arber in the last game. But how much have these players actually brought to the party?

Wearen was quickly deemed surplus to requirements with the bustle of League Two seeming to overwhelm him. Ben Reeves was hooked in all but 1 of his 5 appearances, the one being a very good showing in the Morecambe game. But he didn’t even make the bench upon Parker’s arrival, whose sole outing against Northampton was impressive if futile without anybody looking likely to get on the end of his crosses. Abdulla managed to keep his place for some time but it would be stretching it to say he did well – he has since re-joined but is yet to make an appearance in his 2nd spell. That leaves Bond as the only one who has really helped us, showing a calm head and helping to settle a jumpy backline, keeping a recently erratic Lewington on the bench after his ban was served.

But there were alternatives to the constant disruption of the team. Richard Rose, who hasn’t started a game since being part of the side which took 7 points from 9 over Christmas, could have kept his place at right-back. Without him, we have pushed Spillane between right-back and centre-back so many times he has almost disappeared up his own arse. He was again switched to right-back against Northampton with loan player Baudry coming into the side, and the point was rammed home as Mickey was beaten in the build-up to the winning goal. Doe has also been deployed at right-back as we continue to tinker with the back line.

Ogogo has understandably been deployed in midfield, as the only player with the required energy to get around the pitch. But he has seen so many different partners and systems that any rhythm has been impossible. Sometimes it is 3 with Bingham and Saunders, other times it is 2 with just Saunders or just Bingham, and now Luke Howell is back in the fold. Saunders’ absence was enforced, but surely we could have at least minimised the other changes?

Dom Green, one our better players before picking up a knock at Oxford, has had to settle for 4 consecutive games on the bench upon his recovery as loan players get the nod. Cunnington, who looked like he was at least interested in getting into the box, has gone out on loan despite a 3-game ban for Scott and Woodall carrying a groin injury. Yet despite all the changes, there has been one beacon of consistency; Nurse has continued to start despite scoring 1 goal in his last 20 games.

So we now find ourselves 4 points from safety. We must beat Macclesfield, and we must find another win within the 3 games following it just to stay in touch. Unfortunately guys, that requires us to score.

Taking in such delights as Accrington and Macclesfield, here is our collection of away-day photos from the last year.

In a bid to cater to your every whim, we offer a plethora of viewing possibilities. You can click each image for a larger version in a popup, click here to view the images on Flickr, or even click here to view the images as a rather swanky slideshow. We spoil you don’t we?

Swindon Town, 12th March 2011

Leyton Orient, 22nd March 2011

Peterborough United, 7th May 2011

Macclesfield Town, 6th August 2011

Bradford City, 20th August 2011

Rotherham United, 10th September 2011

Northampton Town, 24th September 2011

Cheltenham Town, 8th October 2011

Accrington Stanley, 26th November 2011

Southend United, 2nd January 2012

Crewe Alexandra, 21st January 2012

Plunged to the bottom of League Two with the 1-2 reverse against Port Vale, a fug had consumed the terraces with the Conference trapdoor beckoning. Fast forward three weeks, and things are looking up. Fingers of sunlight have begun to shine through the gloom. Knocking Walsall out of the cup has triggered an upturn in fortunes which was long overdue, if not anticipated.

That game at the Bescott marked the return from injury of Maher, for the second time already this season. Unlike the first time around, he set about making his presence felt. The plodding and puffing displays of a man unfit and unable to keep up with runners into the box were a thing of the past; this was the player we all wanted and expected when he signed in the summer. Unfortunately I’m talking in the past tense because, you guessed it, he’s crocked again.

The injury situation this season has been nothing short of a joke. And it isn’t a funny one. Like Maher, Josh Scott has made a long-awaited return to the starting eleven. Eeking towards full fitness, he brought with him the ability to keep hold of the ball up front, to provide a focus for our attacks. Again, like Maher, he is out again.

Still, having this duo at the top of their powers simultaneously, albeit for just a handful of games, has provided a timely boost to the side. Crucially, they aren’t the only ones reaching the peak of their capacity. Dominic Green is back and just beginning to find his feet after a career stalled on Peterborough’s scrap heap. His first start against Barnet brought a searing run capped with a fizzing strike against the bar to remind us what we’ve all been missing. In two games since he has shown more rounded performances in a new attacking central midfield position. Billy Bingham is now fully fit after a stop-start few months and, although we’ve lost Gain to yet another injury, he looks ready to stake his claim with classy touch and quiet efficacy.

The fluidity of our attack in a loose 4-3-3 system has been palpable. Cristian Montano has thrived playing off Woodall and Scott; indeed, both provided assists for his double against the Bees. And with Scott now back on the treatment table, Woodall himself has stepped up to the plate in front of goal, scoring in 3 consecutive games.

Another big factor in our improved form has surely been Spillane’s rebirth in the centre of defence. Exposed in his early games at right-back, a move into the middle has seen an upturn in fortunes. He is calm and assured in possession, able to control the ball and find a teammate rather than simply hammering it into row Z. He is reminiscent of a young Mark Arber. It is no coincidence that Scott Doe is finally turning the corner after a spell of poor form, nor that we’ve only conceded 3 goals in the last 5 games.

Mark Arber is due to return from injury imminently, players such as Elito and McCrory are back in contention, Ogogo’s suspension has been served. Is everything starting to come together?

Possibly, but there is cause for caution before we all get giddy. If Maher, Gain and Scott are absent for any length of time and if we are unable to twist Mr Allardyce’s arm to prolong Montano’s stay, the squad will be looking decidedly threadbare once again. It remains to be seen if we can plug any gaps with further loan signings.

Momentum is key; now we finally have some, we really need to keep hold of it.

The most worrying aspect is that you can’t see where a win is coming from. A month or so ago, the team wasn’t playing terribly but was making mistakes in both boxes. Now we’re still making the mistakes, but we have also lost all concept of how to play football. Effort comes in sporadic bursts rather than by the bucketload as we’ve come to expect in recent years.

Where is it going wrong? The defence is an easy place to start – 15 goals conceded in the last 5 games, including a penalty in every single one of those. Captain Mark Arber is playing like a man whose 34 years aren’t just catching up with him, they’ve galloped past him into the distance. Giving the ball away in bad areas, not winning his aerial duels, being caught for pace and easily given the slip. Scott Doe isn’t covering himself in glory either – red cards in both his last 2 games and some rather tentative displays. Ogogo has been out of form ever since a cast appeared on his arm.

It is difficult to lay all the blame at their door though, given how little help they receive from midfield. Kevin Maher’s 4 games back before another injury consisted mainly of a one-paced jog around the middle of the field with the occasional pass or header. The number of tackles or interceptions he made could probably be counted on one hand and he seems to have a habit of giving runners a free pass into our box. Oliver Lee, who has only just returned to West Ham, also seemed incapable of doing any of the graft required to play in central midfield.

We have also persisted with 2 very attacking wide players which means only Peter Gain is doing anything to help the defence. When you are struggling and conceding so many goals, it might be a good idea to adopt a slightly more cautious approach. Talking of the wingers, it seems Gavin Tomlin’s purple patch is over and we are struggling to fill the other berth with only DJ Green fully fit. DJ at least puts a shift in, even though he is struggling to make an impression. It is a big ask for a young lad such as him to lift a poor side.

With experienced players such as Maher, Arber and Tomlin not really doing enough to arrest this slump, it wasn’t exactly devastating to find them all injured for Saturday’s game against Shrewsbury. Moving Ogogo into midfield finally gave us the energy, tenacity and tackling ability we’ve lacked for most of the season and Femi did a superb job in the middle of the defence. Rose, who came in at right-back, didn’t have such a successful start though as he headed a hopeful punt into the path of Gornell for an early opening goal.

Despite this setback, our new-look line-up meant we looked decidedly more secure than we have in recent weeks. It remains to be seen whether Maher and Arber will be put straight back into the side when they return to fitness, but it would be very harsh if they were.

There is, of course, another major problem in our recent performances; scoring goals. Or rather, not scoring goals.

In the last 3 matches we have barely mustered a shot on target. It has been deckchair time for opposing keepers who could probably take a nap during play were it not for the constant goal-kicks yielded by our aimless long balls. We haven’t even looked like we might manage a goal, and indeed the only one we have scored in these matches was a free kick which was badly dealt with by Crawley’s Shearer.

Jon Nurse has been a fixture, mainly due to the chronic injury problems plaguing our other front-line forwards. Unfortunately this is perhaps the worst period of form for the Barbados international since his first season with the club. Yes he has managed a few goals this season, but he hasn’t been at the races for large parts. He seems to lack any kind of sharpness or spark, and the tireless running and tenacity which used to be his main qualities simply aren’t showing up.

He has largely been paired with Woodall, who is learning fast but of course is still very inexperienced. He often shows ability in the air and on the deck and can hold the ball up and defenders off, but in reality both him and Nurse are living on scraps.

The quality of the ball forward has been dreadful in recent weeks. This was typified by the last 30 minutes of Saturday’s game, where every single ball forwards seemed to be a lump onto the head of Ian Sharps. Nursey jumps well for a guy his size, but what chance does he have against mammoth centre halves?

We have been direct ever since John took over, and I have absolutely no problem with that. But to play that way, you need a couple of things: the ability to direct well-judged long balls into the channels, and forwards who can win those balls, lay it off, and then make a beeline for the penalty box. We currently have neither of these. It seems to me that nobody wants the ball for fear of losing it, and the majority of our balls forward are badly directed and badly weighted.

So what is Plan B? Well, it is something John doesn’t think exists – we play our way, we work on playing that way all week, and we implement it on Saturdays. I can completely understand this, but surely it is possible to vary it slightly? Take Saturday for instance – Plan A is our usual way of playing which involves trying to hit the channels. However, what we are actually doing is hitting the centre halves on the bonce. We are failing to execute our plan, but we keep doing the same thing over and over again.

By this point we had a man advantage, and our main danger men, the wingers, are seeing absolutely none of the ball. Can’t we find a way to go through the midfield so we can get the ball wide? I’m not asking for 127 passes, but maybe a forward or a midfielder could come short for the ball and knock it to Green or Scannell. It doesn’t even have to be on the floor – it could be a clipped pass into the chest of Woodall. But what we surely cannot keep doing is hammering the ball onto the defender’s head.

It will be very interesting to see how John deals with this in the coming weeks. And yes, before anybody asks that particular question; it should definitely be John who gets the chance to rectify this predicament.

Since last month’s narrow but poignant defeat at the hands of Hereford, the defence have finally succumbed to the burden of having to keep a clean sheet to stand a chance in any game. You sensed it had been coming, but the point was forcefully hammered home at Edgar Street.

Some of our defending since has been shambolic. The following week’s visit to the hell-on-earth which is the Don Valley Stadium saw the “home” side hit three first-half goals without really breaking sweat. Phil Walsh, who certainly gives his all but just isn’t cut out for life in the Football League, was found wanting and replaced at half-time but the damage was already done by then. It strikes me as strange that Walshy is seemingly our 3rd-choice centre back when we have a surplus (when fit) of midfield players, but that is a conversation for another day.

The Oxford match was more of a return to our normal pattern of creating chances and failing to convert. Nurse, Woodall and Williams were all guilty and Hall’s goal shortly before half-time was enough to give the visitors the spoils. It would be difficult to blame the defence on this occasion, but Morecambe’s long trip south a few days later saw another exhibition of how not to defend.

One long, diagonal ball was enough to cut out the entire back-line on two occasions, one of which ended with the ball in the back of our net. A quickfire second left us on the ropes but Lee made things interesting with an exquisite free kick into the top corner. Woodall provided a more pro-active attacking force from the bench as his header was cleared from the line, but the game was lost through our two defensive howlers.

And so it continued at Northampton. Early in the game Lewington made a superb double save and still no Dagger reacted as Davies gleefully fired the ball into the Daggers net. We were much improved after the break but couldn’t find a goal, Williams missing a sitter with his head from inside the 6-yard box, and Scannell firing a good chance wide. When roly-poly Akinfenwa headed home Northampton’s only chance of the half it added insult to injury, meaning Lee’s last-gasp shot straight through the cardboard keeper wasn’t enough to save a point.

A run of 5 straight league defeats with just 3 goals scored and 9 conceded was finally halted with a vital three points against Crewe. The Daggers started very well but neither Nurse nor Tomlin could convert their chances. The predictable goal came with 15 minutes left, Moore bundling home a rebound. But, for once, the Daggers clawed their way back. Tomlin, who had a fine game in a left-wing role, ran at the defence and crossed for Williams to poke the ball in. And deep into the injury time partly created by Crewe’s own time-wasting, Rose, erm, rose to head home McCrory’s corner and seal the comeback.

It seemed this form would be carried into the game at Cheltenham as a bright start from the Daggers saw Nurse head a good chance over and Tomlin denied by the bar after a lovely move between himself, Lee and Scannell. Williams’ season-ending injury against Crewe gave loan signing Troy Hewitt a chance to shine, and he almost marked the occasion with a goal. He done well to get on the end of Nurse’s excellent right-wing cross but could only spoon the ball up from 6 yards. Although the ball wasn’t finding its way into the net, the movement of Nurse and Hewitt as a pair was a welcome relief after weeks of watching a static front-line without the hunger to get into goalscoring positions.

After controlling the half so well against a good side, it was incredibly frustrating to fall behind. A harsh free-kick was lofted into the Daggers box, and Bennett was given the freedom to nod the ball just inside the post with the defence asleep. Thankfully we took some reward from the half as Scannell almost immediately drove at the defence and crossed for Nurse to turn the ball home.

The expected second-half impetus never came. An early goal from more slack defending set the tone, Pack’s pass squirming under Gain’s foot to Spencer who drilled past Lewington’s somewhat early dive. Gain had largely controlled the first period but was helpless after this as the Robins dominated proceedings. A midfield 4 of Scannell, Lee, Gain and Tomlin looked increasingly fragile with 3 attack-minded players, something which had been hinted at in periods against Morecambe and Oxford when the opposition enjoyed possession.

Pack bossed the second period in the absence of any physical challenge to his possession of the ball, and only Lewington’s superb goalkeeping kept the score down particularly when turning Spencer’s header away.

This recent run means Saturday’s visit of Plymouth takes on huge significance as the Daggers find themselves in a real fight to stay clear of the drop zone. It seems we are really struggling at the moment to put together a 90-minute performance despite patches of good play. It is what happens in the 2 boxes that decides football matches, and we’re making mistakes in both at the moment. The defence need to regain the focus which led to our early-season clean sheets, whilst we are still to find the right blend in midfield and up front. I would recall Bingham to add some bite alongside Gain and keep Lee in reserve for any late salvage missions. Hopefully the return of Green and Elito will also offer us the chance to do something different in attack.

A recent “Favourite Albums” thread on the Daggers Unofficial Forum prompted a flick through the CD collection. Coming across Rage Against The Machine’s Evil Empire album, it seemed none other than Billy Bingham was staring back from the cover!

Google tells me a 15-year-old kid called Ari Meisel is the subject on the cover, but I’m not sure it’s telling the truth. Billy’s recent games have certainly seen us Settle For Nothing, although he wasn’t present for Hereford’s Bulls On Parade a couple of weeks ago. Maybe he didn’t Wake Up in time.

Thankfully our defence has proved resolute, allowing us to take 3 wins and a draw from these opening matches. Whilst this is very welcome, it is not something you can rely on throughout a season. Eventually, such as on Saturday at Hereford, the opposition will find a way through. Sensing a lack of threat in their penalty area, they will have impetus in ours. Nerves can creep in once it dawns on our players that if they concede, they can’t win the game.

Before we get too dramatic, it is worth noting that the season is in its infancy. With several players out injured, there is plenty of time for the tide to turn. But will it?

Without wishing to sound too smug (OK, we love being smug really), the lack of a goals was a problem we highlighted in several of the preview pieces written for other sites. We weren’t a lone prophet either – this is an issue which has troubled many of our fans. Our downfall last season was our profligacy, and surely this is something we should be solving. It is worrying that we haven’t.

Of course we were hoping Josh Scott would return from injury in time for the season’s start. Whilst this would’ve been a massive plus, pinning the goalscoring hopes of the side on one player feels slightly dangerous. Especially when that player spent a few spells of his debut season out injured, and was always going to pick up niggles coming back from such a serious problem. His knee damage is hardly a niggle and we could hardly have foreseen this, but it is a reminder of the problems of relying on one man.

I think most fans would agree that the acquisitions of Jake Reed and Brian Woodall are a positive step. Both already have been given a taste of League football, and the manager has said how much they’ve surprised him. Woodall in particular has done very well with his aerial ability and hold-up play, whilst also finding himself in some good goalscoring positions. He hasn’t taken one of those chances yet, but it is harsh to criticise a player finding his feet. We should see either of these lads partaking at such an early stage as a bonus.

With other young forwards such as Rob Edmans (who was already injured when he signed), and Alex Osborn on the books, the real contenders for starting berths were always going to be Nurse, Tomlin and Williams. Let’s have a closer look at those three.

Jon Nurse we know all about – he came to us with a fairly average goalscoring record at Conference level and struggled to find his feet for some time. Last season was his best return in a Daggers shirt – 10 goals in 42 games. Time will tell us whether he can improve his ratio further or whether this was a peak.

Tomlin we also saw in a Daggers shirt last season, but 2 goals in 20 games saw him shipped out to Torquay on loan. It was a pretty disastrous start if we’re being honest – he was easily shrugged off by League One defenders and his pace cut little ice against the more intelligent players that division offered. He also failed in front of goal, which shouldn’t have been much surprise after 7 goals in 36 and 8 goals in 46 in the two previous seasons.

His reappearance this season has actually been an improvement, showing flashes of good skill and getting into decent positions. He done very well to win the penalty against Swindon, but the problem persists in front of goal. His shooting from range tends to be scuffed and when presented with good chances in the box, he tends to miss the target. This isn’t designed to be a criticism – we should’ve known about his pros and cons when he signed – but the weight of evidence does suggest that he won’t be troubling the top of the scoring charts.

Sam Williams is another guy who had limited success at Yeovil. Not a big fans favourite by all accounts, 6 goals in two seasons perhaps explains why. With Savage and Akinde not around this season, a target man was required and Sam seems to be more in this mould. He has also missed good chances this season but did manage to net a fine header against Torquay. His hold-up play has been decidedly average though, with performances at Macclesfield and Bradford probably not on his all-time greatest games list. The fact that Woodall looked more capable in this department might set some alarm bells ringing.

So, whilst there is potential for some players to emerge towards the end of the season, it doesn’t seem that the answer to our immediate goalscoring problems lies within the squad. There is, of course, the question of service but you have to say we’ve missed plenty of presentable opportunities already this season even without a hugely creative influence. The presence of Elito, Scannell, Lee and now Dominic Green should mean there is always some sort of supply line.

I understand the point John Still has made about not being able to buy ready-made players. I know we have to bring players through, and I know that goalscorers don’t come cheap. However, you can give yourself a fighting chance by having somebody with a goalscoring pedigree in the squad. In the past, players such as Josh, Kandol, Moore, Strevens were brought in from 1 or 2 levels down with a history of scoring goals, and quickly made an impact. We haven’t really found that player in the last couple of years.

A loan player could help us when the window re-opens next week. Or perhaps Jon Nurse fancies being the unlikely hero once again. Here’s hoping!

Starting in League Two, Crawley are big favourites with the bookies due to their seemingly bottomless pot of money. They’ve made some decent signings but I’m still not convinced they are strong enough right now to run away with the title. If things don’t go their way you can bet they will splash out again in January, but there is plenty of value elsewhere and we’ll be giving them a wide berth.

Gillingham’s transfer activity certainly caught our attention this summer but we’ve decided against a flutter for now with the news Adam Birchall will be out for several months. Although they have plenty of ability in midfield, it seems Kedwell will have to lead the attack alone for the time being and goals may be hard to come by. Keep an ear to the ground though – if they acquire another good striker an each-way bet at 18/1 with William Hill could pay off.

Relegated sides don’t tend to fare particularly well in the surroundings of League Two, but Swindon and Bristol Rovers could buck that trend this year. Both have recruited well, although it remains to be seen how quickly a team can be built from these individuals. There is also the risk, like Port Vale last year, that a good start could see their young managers Di Canio and Buckle being courted by clubs higher up the ladder.

One side who are sure to be rattling in the goals this season is Oxford United. They’ve retained the prolific Constable and added the likes of Deane Smalley and Jon-Paul Pittman. Potter and Craddock could come of age this season, and with the experienced Duberry and Capaldi added to their already decent defence, a good season awaits. With that in mind, we’re going to take an each-way bet at 14/1 with William Hill.

If you’re looking for something a bit longer, then Southend United are the best option at 28/1. Although Barry Corr is injured at the moment, they have added Neil Harris, Jemal Johnson and Liam Dickinson to their squad. Financial worries could bite them, but if they manage to finish the season unscathed I’ll be very surprised if they aren’t in the top 7.

In the top scorers market, there is a huge amount of choice. Crawley’s Matt Tubbs is as short as 4/1 in some places and although he should score well, he is untested at this level. Keep an eye on Crawley’s team sheets though and if Tyrone Barnett starts, he is a great pick at 40/1 with bet365. He scored 13 in a poor Macclesfield side last season and can surely better that this time around.

It is difficult to choose between Oxford’s forwards with Constable, Craddock and Smalley all capable of 20 goals, but they could easily end up sharing the burden. All are well-priced though and represent good value. Even better value is the Daggers own Josh Scott, a whopping 80/1 with several firms including Betfred and BlueSq. It is unusual for us to bet on the Daggers, but this is an astounding price when you consider Tomlin, Nurse and Williams are all shorter, so we’ll go each-way on the big man.

Into League One and Huddersfield understandably lead the betting after last season’s 3rd place finish. However, they’ve lost Anthony Pilkington and won’t have the benefit of Afobe this time, and they were already struggling for goals at home last season.

We’ll also steer clear of the turmoil at Sheffield United who have financial problems and some very highly-paid players who they will almost certainly want to offload. It is difficult to see them mounting a promotion campaign with many young and untested players likely to play a part. Another side who may flatter to deceive is MK Dons. On paper they’ve done well to add to a squad which finished 5th last time, but I still feel they may be missing the spark which will take them to the next level.

Instead we’ll side each-way with Charlton at 9/1. Their squad is finally taking shape and although there are question marks over Chris Powell’s management, they surely have enough about them to mount a promotion campaign. The likes of Danny Green, Rhoys Wiggins, Mikel Alonso and Danny Hollands should make things very exciting at the Valley this season and it is hard to see such a talented squad not making the top 3.

Those looking for a longer-odds bet should check out Brentford at 16/1. New manager Rosler has wasted no time in adding quality to an already decent squad and Clayton Donaldson should certainly bang the goals in. It is worth taking the 20/1 each-way that last season’s League Two top scorer repeats the feat at the higher level. Also with Preston likely to mount a challenge, Neil Mellor is a good bet at 25/1.

There seems to be very little value in the Championship this year with Leicester and West Ham looking set to fight it out at the top of the table, and they are priced accordingly at just 4/1.

However looking slightly further down, could Brighton “do a Norwich” and secure a 2nd successive promotion? After taking League One by storm last season, they have added some very good players such as Craig Mackail-Smith and Will Buckley. There is a buzz around the club with Gus Poyet’s canny management and a move to their impressive new stadium. There is a concern that Poyet could be a leading candidate for the first Premiership vacancy that arises this year, but William Hill’s 22/1 is very generous and we’ll again go each-way on that.

Anybody feeling particularly brave can put Brighton, Charlton and Oxford in a £5 e/w accumulator and come out with around £475 if they all make the top 3. Good luck!

Do any of these guys actually stand a chance of grabbing a shirt for next season though? Well, yes actually. The satisfyingly alliterative Richard Rose has been involved since the very first game of pre-season, and looks set to sign a contract within the next week. He comes with a reputation as a reliable performer, and his versatility across the backline and as a defensive midfielder should prove very useful as we return to a more sensible 5 substitutes next season. For a full rundown of his Bulls career, take a look at this article on Bulls News.

Another couple of players who look certain to be pulling on the red and blue next season are Sam Williams and Luke Howell. Williams, 24, has spent the last 2 years of his career at Yeovil where he managed the rather unenviable strike rate of 6 goals in 75 games. He made his first appearance in the 0-0 draw with Leyton Orient and John Still has since confirmed he will be offered a contract. For those not of a squeamish nature there is rather stomach-turning picture of him to be found on google image search…

Howell is best known for his spell at MK Dons but he ended last season at Lincoln. Also 24, his box-to-box qualities will hopefully go some way to replacing the energy of Romain Vincelot. He was one of only 3 players to be offered a new deal by the Imps, but has spent the summer trying to find a League club and seems to have got his wish. He made 67 appearances for the Dons over 3 years, and a further 27 for the Imps before making his Daggers bow in the 2-2 draw at Ebbsfleet and impressing in the 0-0 draw with Orient.

Also likely to sign is another former Imp, central defender Moses Swaibu. Swaibu was a part of the same Crystal Palace youth team as Billy Bingham and has recently turned 22. A promising start to his Lincoln career seemingly tailed off rather dramatically, and he was released in January. Notable for his physical abilities – he stands at 6ft 2in and has plenty of pace and strength – he is unfortunately also notable for some off-field incidents including stealing a chicken. Which isn’t at all amusing. Not even a bit.

The Crystal Palace connection doesn’t end there, as another former team-mate of Bingham has turned out several times in recent weeks. James Comley, a midfield player, made his Palace debut in 2009 and went on to make 6 appearances before his recent release. Also featuring in midfield has been Harvard graduate Scott Prozeller. The former USA U18 player made 18 appearances scoring 3 times last season and can been seen netting a penalty in this season-ending showpiece against Haiti.

A second American, Erik Opsahl, turned out against Billericay last week. A defensive midfielder, he attended St John’s University and more recently had a short spell with Reading – detailed in this interview. He has trained with Fluminense, Bordeaux and Auxerre and is 18 years old.

In defence there have also been several unfamiliar faces, with former Spurs youth player Takura Mtandari and Slovakian Vladimir Galbavy both making appearances. Mtandari, a right back, dropped down to play for Winchester after leaving Tottenham. He has since been linked with Nancy, PSV and Charleroi and played a game on trial at Norwich earlier this year. Galbavy is a 19-year-old central defender formerly of Petrzalka and has now moved on to a trial with Southend.

Other players who have featured in recent weeks include former Chalfont St. Peter left-back Adam Louth, Waltham Abbey winger Tyler Campbell and former Notts County and Elche midfielder Matt Marshall. Another midfielder, Connor Heffernan, has played for Dartford, Sittingbourne and Welling. The former West Ham youth player had looked set to join FC Torrevieja in Spain last season after impressing on trial, but was strangely placed in the reserves by the manager before returning to England.

Up front a couple of interesting names have appeared on the teamsheet in Dwight Gayle and Arthur Gomez. Gayle was the Essex Senior League top scorer last season with 35 goals and has trialled at Brentford. The former Arsenal youth player made an immediate impression with 2 goals against Grays in our second pre-season game. The origin of Gomez is less clear-cut, but he is believed to be a Gambian former Manchester United youth player. A goalscoring loan spell at Antwerp brought a move to Dessel but he soon moved to China with Henan Construction where he spent 2 years. His whereabouts since 2008 are difficult to trace but wikipedia suggests he has been in the Andorran league with UE Engordany – and that really is a mouthful.

Now we find ourselves back in League Two, a division you would rather expect us to be comfortable in, the chance is there to give our younger players a taste of first-team football. But who can make the step up?

Billy Bingham finds himself in line for a starting berth with Gain ruled out for the opening weeks of the season, and he has a great chance to keep hold of the shirt. He has plenty of quality on the ball but we need to see whether he can offer the same tenacity as Gain when it comes to scrapping out results.

Also in midfield, Lee Wootton and Conor Okus will hope to be involved. Wootton signed his first professional deal last summer after coming through the U18 side, and was immediately loaned to Histon. Despite his stature, he is certainly not a shrinking violet as his 34 matches came with 3 red cards. A staggering run of 13 straight defeats at the end of the season saw them relegated to the Conference North, but to play the majority of a tough Conference season aged 18 is no mean feat.

Okus meanwhile played one Conference South game for Thurrock before linking up with Ebbsfleet United. A two-month spell brought 13 matches and a single goal which came from the penalty spot after he himself surged into the box and was brought down. That goal helped Fleet up to second place in the league, as they went on to win the playoffs.

Up front, a trio of new young players will be aiming to stake their claim for a place. Jake Reed, 20, scored 21 goals for Great Yarmouth last season but will be making a 5-step jump this season with the Daggers. Taking an even bigger leap is Brian Woodall, 23, who signed from Gresley this summer. Capable of playing on the wings or through the middle, he previously played 18 games for Hinckley before netting 51 times in 88 games for the Moatmen. Both men may benefit from loan spells in the Conference South or Ryman League, but either could find themselves involved at some point this season.

Making a less daunting rise is Rob Edmans, from Chelmsford City. The 6ft 6in striker has played for Maldon, Tiptree and Witham but impressed last season with the Clarets, scoring 5 goals in 17 matches before a broken leg ended his season early. He also played college football in the USA, setting up the winner for Virginia Tech in the 2007 NCAA quarter-final before missing this chance in a narrow semi-final loss.

Another option up top is Alex Osborn, who was signed from Grays last summer but immediately loaned back to the Ryman Division 1 side. At just 16 he managed 11 Conference games and 2 goals, and last season he hit 20 goals in 44 games. He is another who could benefit from a loan spell slightly higher up the pyramid, but he certainly seems to have the ability to make an impact from the bench this season.

At the back Duran Reynolds and Luke Wilkinson will look to take advantage of Antwi’s departure. Reynolds, who isn’t yet 20, is another player who spent last season at Grays, where he made 41 appearances. His left foot would give good balance should Arber miss any games, and his versatility makes him another option at left back. It is probably premature for him to play just yet, but an early-season loan move could set him up for some games in 2012.

Wilkinson’s season at Boreham Wood ended in a mid-table Conference South finish, with the 19-year-old centre half playing 26 games. Wilkinson has actually played for and against Wood this pre-season, turning out for the Daggers in a 2-0 win and for Wood in a 1-0 win over Hendon. He may have a chance of starting the season on the bench with no other recognised centre halves currently signed, although Rose and Walsh can both do a job there.

The player everybody will be talking about though is Danny J Green. The winger with the questionable hair showed some nice touches from the bench at the end of last season, and has been involved with the first team in pre-season. His sudden rise to prominence has come as something of a surprise, with 3 separate loan spells in the Conference South last season with Braintree, Chelmsford and Boreham Wood. A fair amount of that time was spent on the bench, however it certainly seems that he will be given his chance to shine this season.